Box assembling and nailing machine.



1. B. KITCH; BOX ASSEMBLING AND NAILING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNEG. 1912.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.-

I3 SHEETS-'SHEET I.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6. iQIZ- Patented. Oct. 30, 1917.

l3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. B. KITCH. BOX ASSEMBLI'NG AND NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men JUNE 6.1912.

1,'2%,986. Patented 001;. 30,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3. a

J. B. KITCH.

BOX ASSEMBLING AND NAILING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED JUNEG. 1912. 1244,96. Patented Oct. 30,1917.

:3 SHEETS-SHEET 4'.

APPLlCAIION FILED JUNE 6. I912.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 5 w M M Gummy J. B. KiTCH.

BOX ASSEMBLING AND 'NAILING MACHWE,

APFLICATXON FILED JUNE 6. s12.

i %%,& I Patented Oct. 30,1917.

J. B. KITCH.

BOX ASSEMBLING AND NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6.1912- Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

l3 SHEET SHEET J. B. KITCH- BOX ASSEMBLING AND NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6.1912- Patented Oct. 30,1917,

I3 SHEETS-SHEET'E.

1. B. KNEE.-

BOX ASSEMBUNG AND NMLRPJG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6.1912.

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J. 8. KITCH.

BOX ASSEMBLING AND NAlLiNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED !UHE 6.1912- ?atwted 9%; $3,191?

' 13 SHEE?SSHEET 10.

. LQQQESQB ME W 0 .L B KITCH.

BOX ASSEMBLING AND NAILING MACHINE.

APPLICAHON FILED JUNE 6.1912.

' Patented Oct. 30,1917.

J. B. KITCH.

BOX ASSEMBLING AND muum; MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEG. 1912- J. B. KlTCH.

BOX ASSEMBLING AND NAIHNG MACHINE.

APPLiCATXOH FILED JUNE 6.1912.

1244,96, Patented 0m. 30,1917.

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lllididll tiTATE JOSEPH B. KITCH, 0F GEDABEDGE, COLORADO.

BOX assniuennve AND wartime MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 36, 1917.

Application filed June 6, 1912. Serial No. 702,131.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it kn'ownthat I, Josnrrr B. KITCH, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cedaredge, in the county of Delta and State of Colorado, have in-' vented certain new and useful Improvements in Bo-X'Assembling and Nailing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to box assembling and nailing machines and has as its object the provision of a compact and efiicieut ma chine of this character having numerous novel features. Among these are the gen- 'eral arrangement and collocation of the different parts of the machine, the various blank feeds, the former support, the blank positioning and holding devlces, the nalling mechanism, and the means for operating the machine. While it is obvious that many of these features may be employed with advantage by themselves or ininachines of.

very different types, I have combined them in a machine which has the following gen eral arrangement. A former support movable step by step is provided and above this are arrangedmagazines holding the various blanks, there being three successive stations arranged lengthwise of the machine in which direction the former support moves, said stations corresponding to three successive movements of the former support. Blanks are fed to each of said stations and at the third station the box is completed. A shortening of the machine is made possible by arranging two of the blank magazines face to face and near together, providing the former support with dividers spaced apart one dimension of the boX to be formed, and employing a special mechanism for feeding a pair of blanks from said magazines to each side of said former support. The means for feeding the various blanks are such as to permit the assistance of gravity.

The above is merely suggestive and by no means exhaustive and for a complete understanding of the invention and of its scope reference should be had to the specification and to the claims appended thereto in which theinvention is more particularly set forth.

Referring to the drawings: v

Figure l is a side elevation of the entire machine.

Fig. 2 is an incomplete section and plan illustrating the driving connections and the operating slide for the former support.

2 is a detail view of parts of the slide illustrated in Fig. 2 showing the manner in which it is supported and guided.

3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3,Fig. 1. I

a is an enlarged central longitudinal sectionthrough the box end-magazinesand the feeding devices therefor.

D Fig. a.

6 is a perspective view illustrating one of the boX side magazines and the feedin devices associated therewith.

Fig. a vertical section through the end of the former support and adjacent parts of the franie showing in elevation the roller around which the former support passes. V i

8 is a section andplan of the box side magazines, the related feeding mechanism and the box side positioning and holding means. p

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the former support at the second station, the related blank clamping and positioning devices and parts of the box top magazine.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the gravity feeding pawl for the former support;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of one member of the double feeding pawl showing its relation to the guide rail. 7

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of parts of the box top magazine illustrating the vertically movable support and showing in section the box being formed.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section on the line 12 -12, Fig. 11, illustrating the construction of the-box top magazine showing also the I is a plan view corresponding to;

turner guides and blank positioning and holding means for the box sides and the former support.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section on the line 1813, Fig. 1, showing the nailing mechanism but omitting various other parts for clearness.

Fig. let is a horizontal section and plan on the line lkli, Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged horizontal section through one of the side nailers.

Fig. 16 is a vertical section on the line 16-16, Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged section in the plane of a nailing channel for a side nailer.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the interior construction of the side nailer head and the driver slide, the nail cut-oil and pivoted nail carrier being removed from the nailer head in order to show the construction clearly.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view in vertical section through two of the top nailers in the plane of the nail channels, and

Fig. 20 is a detail fragmentary sectional view in a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 19.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 3

i and 14:: The machine embodying my invenion and illustrated in the drawings is pro vided with a frame which may conveniently be constructed of angle irons arranged in horizontal and in vertical planes. At the head of the machine is the cross piece or base 1, and at the'toot the corresponding cross piece 2. A pair of uprights 3 is secured to the base 1 at the head of the machine and a pair of uprights l is secured to the cross piece at the foot of the machine, the members of said pairs being spaced apart slightly more than the width or the box to be formed. A pair of horizontal angle irons 5 and another pair of angle irons 6, located above the first, extend lengthwise of the machine and connect corresponding members of the pairs of uprights The angle irons 5 of the lower pair have their vertical flanges extending downward and the angle irons 6 of the upper pair have their vertical flanges extending upward. This leaves'a passage lengthwise of the machine in which moves the former support to be hereinafter described both pairs of angle irons constituting guide rails for the respective flights of the former sup port. The upper pair of angle irons 6 provides what 1 have termed the lower deck. Between the uprights 3% are pairs of up rights 78 having one member of each pair at each side of the machine. These pairs of uprights are spaced apart in the direction or" the length of the machine slightly more than the length of the box to be X,YA

At the top of the mach ne are located the horizontal angle irons 9 which support the box end magazines A directly ver the former support and nearer together than the distance between thebackand the front edge of the blank, and in the machine as illustrated nearer together than the least dimension of the box to formed. tending transversely across the machine at the top is a pair of horizontal angle irons 10 spaced apart slightly more than the length of the box. 1 These with the angle irons 9 constitute the upper deck of the machine and support the no side magazines B which are symmetrically located one at each side of the central longitudinal plane of the machine. lower decks at the front of the machine are horizontal angle irons 11 one at each side of the machine and forming a pair and near the foot of the machine at the third station are horizontal angle irons 12 one at each side of the machine and forming a pair. These form an intermediate deck on a level with which the box top magazine is located.

For-mer- Support.

rollers 1i suitably mounted at each end of the frame in brackets 15 secured to the up rights 3 and i and provided with guide strips 16. The belt 13 has secured on its under side a num er of transverse cleats 1? spaced apart substantially the length of the box to be formed plus the thickness of a divider and having reduced ends 18 lying just underneath the guide ails 6 or over the rails 5 according to which reach of the belt is considered. The construction provides shoulders 18 which act as guides and spacers. These cleats support the eividers which are shown as comprising uprights 19 and top cross, pieces 20 it not being necessary that they should be solid blocks. The front face of each divider acts to square the box. the forward ends of said blanks in case they project beyond its rear face. The rear outer edges of the uprights are rabbeted at 21 to leave room for the other end of the box sides Where these are a fraction long and Between the upper and The divider is constructed to receive therefore project beyond the face of the divider. The said uprights are provided with horizontal grooves 22 for cooperation with stationary parts of the mechanism to be hereinafter described. Each top cross piece 20 is provided with a pair of feeding projections which are preferably protected by metal plates 23 and whose function will subsequently appear. The oppos ing faces of adjacent dividers are spaced apart substantially the length of the box to be formed so that the central transverse planes through successive dividers are spaced apart substantially the length of the be to be formed plus the thickness of a divider. The dividers are secured to upright members of plates 25 fastened to the upper side of the cleats in corresponding locations at each end thereof and in sliding contact with the rails 6. The rigidity of the-conncction between the uprights l9 and the cleats 17 and therefore the belt 13 is increased by angle plates the vertical members of which are secured to the sides of the uprights l9 and the horizontal members 26. of which rest on the tops of the plates 25 and extend under shoulders 27 on lugs 28 thereon and project outside of the plane of the lugs 28 to form supports for the box sides. To avoid interference with the box blanks the upper ends of the vertical memberg 26 of the angle plates are bent and ex tended into the face of the uprights 19. Each pair of lugs 28 is spaced away the face of the adjacent divider to ample room'for a box end. In each pair of lugs 28 is pivoted at 29 a clamping memoer 30 which I have shown as a bar bent in the shape of a bale and extending up a considerable distance toward the top of the divider to prevent the box ends from overbalancing. Each of these clamping memhers is provided with a tail 31 to the under side of which is secured at one end the sprin which is bent to )resent a bevel in each direction. The tails of the members of a pair of clamps are located at opposite sides of the belt and are in sliding contact-with the guide rails 6 which have slots 33 which control the position of the clamping members, the members being in clamping position except when the springs fall into said slots which are located to cause the chimping members to open at X, to close between X and Y and to remain closed until after Z is passed.

The principal objects attained by the les Ye zontal flanges of the angle irons 6 on which the lates 25 slide. The lower fii 'ht 1s siu ported by the horizontal flanges of the angle irons 5 winch act as guides on which slide the reduced ends 18 of the cleats 17'. It will be noted that the tails of the clamping memem a awa rom tie 'uice ra is 5 w 1cm 1) f ll i l g l 1 l e 0 am m men'i ers are on be lower th 1 p g b t 1 flight. The sprin gs with which the tails are provided cause the clamping members to exert a firm continuous pressure on the blanks even when these are not absolutely uniform. Since the clamping members extend completely across the blanks, any blanks which may have warped are fiattened.

" Pricing Means.

T he driving devices are most clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 2, 3 and 10 to which reference should now be had. The shaft 4:0 journaled in bearings in the standards 41 is provided with loose and fast pulleys l2 and 4-3 respectively. all indicates the driving belt. At each end of the shaft lO are cranks which are shown in the form of disks 45 to which are pivotally secured by wrist pins 46 the pitmen 4i? whose other ends are pivotally secured at 4-8 to cylindrical portions of a transverse reciprocating driving slide 49. All the moving parts of the machine are driven from this slide and this is a conveni nt and simple arrangement although it not indispensable. The driving slide is supported from guide rails 50 supported by brackets 51 which extend down from each chine. The driving slide i9 is flat and is provided with two pairs of ears 52 located just inside the guide rails 50. All these ears project forward from the driving slide and the ears adjacent the guide rails 50 extend across the slide and are provided with hori zontal lugs 53, which rest on the flat upper surface of the guide rails and thus support driving slide l9. he vertical face of each ear having the lugs is in sliding contact with the adjacent vertical face of the corresponding guide rail so that the slide is accurately maintains-cl in its transverse posi tion. Holes are provided in the pairs of cars for the purpose of pivotallv securing thereto. by means of suitable pins links the other ends of which are pivotally secured by pins 57 to pairs of ears 58 with which each member of a double weighted pawl is provided. Each member 59 has an active face 60 for coaction with the edge of the cleats l? the provision of two members keeping the former support and the dividers in correct position and insuring an accurate feed. The'members 59 are connected by a bachwardlyextending portion 61 which serves as a. weight. Each of the guide rails 6 at each side of the ma member consists of two parts, the pawl proper which lies upon the top of a guide 50 and slides thereon and the ledge 62 extending lengthwise underneath the guide 50 and sharing its connection with the pawl 1nein ber near the, inner side of the said rail. it

v l 'l- K W. V M K 11 hill thus be seen tnat the pawl nieinbei 1 l l v? i a r straddles tne guide all. leach 6.5 has projecting :t'orward and lying in t an to that of the rest of These ledges bein located just under the guide rails slide them, up; the double weighted lg thrown too far up by the pawl from ben 15 weight (31 and maintaining both pawl members in proper position. lhe throw of the driving slide i9 cranks l-B i" t and the dongle weighti ough feed the i of said nti al l y l pawl tl coactio f tl cleats 1. so i he box plus the width of a :e foiavard half of the strol itire on the rear ha il new (3 q mac-bin s.

35 and spaced fron th m substai'it second pair of vertical rock shafts 7T supported in bearings 78 secured to horizontal beams '79 corresponding to the bear Tl and having also bearings 30 secured to horizontal beams 81 corresponding to the beams 6. Each of tl tour sl'ia is pro *ided with a collar 82 located a little bethe ilane of the guide rails and hatiug an arm Links onnect ea h pair of arms being pivot-ally secured thereto. Pitman 85 pitcted at 86 to the driving slide and at 87 to the forward of the two arms 83 and to the link 8% constitute the driving connection by which the reciprocation of the driving slide L9 is transformed into oscillation of the rock shafts. The construction is the same at each side of the machine. The YflliOllS mechanisms driven from these rock shafts will be hereinafter explained and the operation of the driving connection followed through.

B050 End Feed.

reac es other and are permitted to pass by gravity being suitably guided to the former supportat opposite sides of the dividers. The, construction and arrangement of the feeding de YlCGS is such that I am enabled to place the two magazines near. together, much nearer, indeed, than the least dimension of the box to be formed. This makes the structure very compact. Each magazine may be simply and conveniently constructed by securing to the angle irons 9, corner posts, one pair of which 90, at the feed end of the magazine, I prefer to make of angle irons having horizontal transverse ledges 91 raised suliiciently above the horizontal flanges of the angle irons 9 to leave more than suiiicient room for the passage of a box blank. I have shown the other pair of corner posts 92 which are located at the opposite end of each magazine as of a heavier construction and as connected by horizontal supporting ledges 93, each post being provided with a horizontal slot 9!. adjacent the ledge. The plane of the ledges 93 is above that of the ledges 91. Beit f each magazine is a gravity guiding dcrice which it is most convenientand cheapest to make in the form of two inclined turner guides 95 which are preferably flanges on plates 96 secured each side of the machine to the upright flanges of the angle irons 9 whose horizontal flanges are interrupted b tween the corner posts 90 of thetwo magazines. T he plates 96 prevent the blanks from moving to either side and the turnerguides 95 whose respective ends are secured to the angle irons 9 and 11 are preferably curved. The term turner guides has been applied to them since they receive the blanks in a plane approximately horizontal and deliver them in a plane approximating the vertical. Mid way between the two magazines and their respective turner gui es at each side of the machine and projecting transversely inward,

is a dividing block 97 which prevents any lDlX-BlfEiQilCS between the banks as they are fed from the respective magazines. The horizontal tlangesof the angle irons 11 are cut away at 98 to form slots to avoid obstructing the passage of the blanks. Between the angle irons 11 and the guide rails 6 at each side of the machine, are plates 99 which perform tl e same function as the plates 98 and assist in locating the blanks in their proper relation on the former support.

T he means for feeding the boX end blanks is distinctly novel and embodies means for simultaneously feeding blanks first toward each other. then away frcm each other, and finally toward each other as they are simultaneously set free to the turner guides, the purpose being to free each blank first from its support at one end of the magazine and ion from its support at the other and finally o more it onward and release to the turner 'uides. This results in saving a great space which would be necessary for an ordinary direct feed. At the head of the machine and at each side thereof, I secure to the frame guides 100 having horizontal members located below the plane of the top deck. Qther guides 101 having horizontal members below the plane of the top deck are secured to the frame at each side of the machine adjacent the second magazine, 2'. e., the one which is farther from the head of the ma chine. Gn these guides slide transverse bars 102 to which are secured feeders which are in the nature of ledges having vertical active feeding faces 103 and 101- and an intermediate horizontal portion 105 on which the end of the blank may rest. The feeding face 103 extends up far enough to coact with the lowest blank in the adjacent magazine and the feeding face 10 1 is located at the proper height to coact with the end of a blank after it has been completely released from the adjacent magazine.-

Between the two magazines are arranged in different horizontal planes the pairs of guides 106 and 107. The transverse bar 108 carrying the feeder block 109 slides on the guides 106 and the transverse bar 110 carrying the feeder block 111 slides on the guides 107, said bars being provided with holes through which the said guides pass. As shown in Fig at the blanks normally rest at one end on the pairs of ledges 91 and at the other end on the feeder blocks 109 and 111 respectively.

The means whereby the proper relative movements are given to these pairs of feeders are as follows: The pitmen r'labove referred to as pivotally secured in cars on the slides 19 are pivotally connected at their other ends with levers 112 pivoted at each side of the frame at 113, which is the re duced end of'a stiffening cross piece 11a secured to the uprights 3. The frame is further strengthened at this point by angle plates 115 which are also secured to the uprights The connection between each pitman 71 and the corresponding lever 112 may be made adjustable by providing additional slots 110 in one of these members. lairs of links 117 connect the upper ends of said levers with that one-of the sliding bars 102 which is nearer the head of the machine and pairs of links 118 pivotally connected to the levers 112 below their pivots have their other ends pi'votally connected to the other sliding bar 102. The transverse rods 108 and 110 to which are secured the feeders 109 and 111 are connected respectively to the front and rear bars 102 by pairs of links 119 and 120, a lost motion connection bein in each instance provided by means of slots 121.

Figs 1 and 4 illustrate the feeding means in two different positions. In Fig. d a pair of blanks already released from the magazine is about to be set free to the turner guides by the action of the vertical faces 104: of the feeding ledges, these ledges being moved toward each other by virtue of the connection just described. As the lovers 112 turn about their pivots, the slots 121 permitting this movement without disturbing the feedcr blocks 109 and 111, the ends of the blanks lying underneath ledges 91 and held thereby are pushed out from under the same and the blanks are thus set free to the turner guides. The bars 102 continuing to move toward eacn other reach the inner ends of the slots 121 thus retracting the feeder blocks 109 and 111 and permitting the far ends of the blanks to drop to the ledges 93. Almost immediately after this action has occurred the feeding face 103 of each reciprocating ledge comes into contact with the near end of the lowest blank and slides it onward as illustrated in Fig. 1, the near end being soon forced off the ledge 91 while at the same time the far end is moved over the ledge 93 into the slots 94-. The difference in level of the ledges 91 and 93 assists in this operationv and in that about to be described. On the return stroke each transverse bar 102 moves back some distance before reaching the. other end of the slots 121 so that the feeding ledges with their feeding faces 103 and their horizontal portions 105 are out, of the way before the feeders 109 and 111 are advanced through the connect ing links 119 and 120. This movement of the said feeders brings them into contact with the far ends of the blanks which have been freed as above described from the ledges 91 and pushes them edgewise through the space between the under side of the ledges 91 and the turner guides 95, until the parts occupy the position shown in Fig. 4, in which the blank released completely from the magazine is held by its weight between the gravity guides and the under sides of the ledges 91.

The plates 99 are connected. by intermediate bars 122 secured thereto and to the uprights 7 at each side of the space in which the former support moves, these bars being set slightly nearer together than the plates 99 the grooves in the uprights 19 Side F eed.

The side feed is bestshown in Figs. 3, 6

and 8, although reference may also be posts 131 have their lower had in this connect-ion to 1. T he box side magazines l3 located on the top deck and symmetrically arranged with respect to the former support are suitably constructed bv securing corner posts to the transverse h zontal angle irons 10, the corner posts being preferably angle iroi The outer corner post-s 130 stop short the horizontal of the angle irons 10 and the inner corner ends turned outwardly into a horizontal plane to form retaining lugs 132 which when the box side being fed prevent it from tipping up out of reach of the feeding means whei'i the box sides above it are of insuflicient weight to hold it down, this condition occurring when only a few of the box sides remain in the magazine. Beyond the ends of the mag;- Zinc toward the center of the machine the horizontal flanges of the angle ir 10 are omittedand to this portion of the angle iron at eachside of the former support is secured a pair of plates lilt which prevent the box sides from improper movementlengthwise of the machine and each of which has a flange forming a contiiuiation of the horizontal flange of the angle iron 10 and acting as a gravity turner guide, the said guide being inclined and extending from substantially the upperdeck to substantially the lower deck of the machine. These turner guides are preferably curved. V

Adjacent the outer side of each magazine there secured to each of the angle irons 10 an angle plate or lug 136 connected by a stifiening cross piece 13? whose ends are angularly off-set so as to lie in the plane of the lugs 136 while the restof the cross piece passes over the vertical flanges of the angle irons 10 so as to permitthe feeder to be re ciprocated thereundor. T he means for causing this reciprocation are as follows: The vertical rock shafts 72 to which movement is given as hereinbefore described are each provided with an adjustable collar 1 :39 to which is secured an arm 1&0 the end of which is pivotally connected to the system oflevers for operating the feeder 138. each of the angle irons 1O underneath the cross piece 137 and the lugs 136 are pivoted by bOltsllL levers 1&2, each of which is pivotally connected with the feeder by links 143. To the middle of the under side of the transverse portion of the feeder 138 is fixed thebar Lil. i his bar as well as the lovers 14:2 is provided with a slot H5. A bolt 146 passes through the intersection of said slots permitting free movement of the parts but maintainingtheni in the proper relation. The arm ltO. above referred to. is pivot-a ly connector by a link 1st? with one of the lovers 1&2 so that the rocking of the. shaft 72. pulling on lever 1&2 through the link 1&7, forces the feeder 1338 forward .in a manner which will be apparent on reference to Fig. 8 in which the retracted and advanced positions of the mechanism are :--;hown in full and in dotted lines respec lively. It will be understood that asthe feeder 13S moves forward under the magazine. it moves the lowest blank out of the magazine. finally setting it free to the turner guides 135 down which it slides to its proper place on the former support. In order, however to locate the sides accurately on the former, positioning and holding devices, which will now be described, are provided. it each side of the machine about midway between the lower deck and the deck: next above it lugs or brackets 155 are secured to the uprights 7 and adjacent the respective levels of the lower deck and the deck next above it are secured to the uprights 8, pairs of lugs or brackets 156 which have vertically alined holes in which is mounted for oscillation. a vertical rock shaft 157; having an arm 15S rigidly SG-ClllGtltllGlOlO. This arm connected with one of the lovers M2 by a link 159 pivoted to the said arm and to the leven said link extending downward from substantially the plane of the upper deck to the plane in which the arm 158 is located. immediately above and'below each lug 155 is pivoted thereto a shortlink 160 to the other ends of which are secured the ends of the positioning rods 161162 which lie in a vertical plane and are shown as inclined or bowed having together the shape of a wishbone so that while their front ends are substantially midway between the lower deck and the deck next above it, their'rear ends are much nearer one or the other of the respectivedecks. the active portion of the device which obiously makes it effective. The rear ends of the positioning rods Milk-162 are pivotally connected to arms 16316i with which the rock shafts 15*- are provided.

The operation of these positioning devices should be clear on reference to the figures above mentioned. As the feeder moves forward the positioning rods 161-162 which had been in the position shown in solid lines in 8. in which they hold the box blank in position on the former support. are first retractet. so as to leave a free passage for the blank from the corresponding magazine and are then moved back into their advanced position carrying the blank with them and properlypositioning itv on the former support with its front end, if it projects beyond the rear face of the adj acent divider, in the rabbet 21 as the feeder 138 is retracted. In addition to placing the blank correctly these rods continue to press upon the box moves onward to the This gives a spread to.

nailing devices thus insuring its remaining machine. If desired these rods 161'16L- may be extended to said station Z, looped or offset portions being provided to avoid interference with the uprights or other holding means such as the strips used at station X may be employed. The upright flanges of the angle irons 6 and 12 are however sufficient.

B000 Top Feed.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 8, 9, l1 and 12: The box top magazine is located at station Y on the intermediate deck immediately over the former support. As the box tops ordinarily consist of two separate pieces the box top magazine is divided into two corresponding parts. As has already been stated, the feeding of the box tops is performed by the dividers themselves, the said tops being carried with the rest of the box to station Z where the assembled box is secured together. Between the uprights 7 at each side of the machine are secured short upright angle irons 166 extending down from-the vertical flanges of the angle irons 10 which at this point are mere runners and terminating above the plane of the cross pieces 20 of the dividers. Similarly uprights 167 having a like arrangement are locatec between the uprights 8 at each side of the machine. On the far side of the runners 10 at the foot corners of the magazine are located uprights 168, 169 terminating'above the plane of the cross pieces 20 of the di viders but little below the plane of the tops of the feeding projections thereon so as to permit the lowest blank only to be fed. Plates 170 constituting the outer sides of the box top magazine secured to the uprights 168, 169 are set in so that the outer edge of each set of box blanks is nearer the center of the machine than the plane of the outer faces of the box sides. This insures the tops being fed in the location in which they are ordinarily secured in boxes for fruit which this machine is especially designed to make. The plates 170 have angular lugs 171 extending inward above the plane of the top of the former cross pieces 20 and slightly below the plane of the projections and forming supporting ledges at the outer corners at the head of the magazine. From each of the angle irons or runners 10 depend supports 172 and 173, the former having its lower end slotted so that it constitutes a fork having the separated parallel legs 17% whose lower ends 17 5 are outwardly bent into the horizontal plane of the lugs 171 to form supporting ledges for the inner head corner of each pile of box tops. Pivotally mounted, as indicated in 176, in the forks formed by the parallel legs 17 i is the separator 177 extending diagonally lengthwise of the machine between the two piles of box tops dividing the magazine into a dividers, it is readily pushed up out of the way by them as the former support advancesreturning as soon as the box end has passed and acting as a separator and posi tioning guide for the two hall box tops being fed. The diagonal arrangement of the separator also enables it to act etfectively to separate and aline the two piles of box tops.

it will be noted that in the magazine as above described no provision is made for supporting the box tops except at the head of the magazine. This is an original ar rangement which is effective since when the machine is in operation the two blanks being fed, 6., the lowest blanks in each sub-magazine, are supported at their foot ends by the foot end of the box and, when they are pushed 01? the ledges 171, 175, by the head end also, the feeding projections or fingers 23 of the dividers passing under and holding up the rest of the blanks which are Prevented from being fed forward by the uprights 1G9.

Whenthe machine is started no box tops are in the magazine. A. pair of box ends is fed to each side of a divider at station X and a pair of box sides is fed at station Y. This, however, does not complete the first box since its foot end is missing. It may therefore be removed from the machine or rather its sides and single end may be, be fore the nailers are reached, the vertical flange oftheguide rails 6 being reduced in height at station Y for this purpose. The machine is then permitted to move the former another step, the top magazine is supplied with blanks and the machine will operate continuously thereafter.

Another mode of procedure is to load the head side of a divider with a box end by hand and operate the machine to load the next divider, box tops being placed in the magazine when the pair of dividers in ques tion reaches station Y and'the machine thereafter operating continuously. As the former support may be moved forward freely independently of the, driving devices the machine may readily be started in this manner.

The manner in which the box tops are fed is clearly indicated in Fig. 12 where the feeding projections 23 on the top of one of the dividers are seen to be just behind the head end of the lowest box top in each of the sub-magazines. As the divider moves 

